the Creative Edge
Photo Courtesy of Ruth Ann Lohrenz, CKD
2nd Quarter 2015
 Issue No. 5
ENHANCING MEMBER SUCCESS AND EXCELLENCE WHILE PROMOTING PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICAL BUSINESS PRACTICES, AND PROVIDING LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION FOR THE KITCHEN & BATH INDUSTRY.
New NKBA Susquehanna Valley
Chapter Members! 
We would like to welcome and thank all of the new members that have joined the Susquehanna Chapter in 2015! We appreciate your support and look forward to getting to know you during meetings and events. Here are the new members for 2015:

1) Dana Swiger - John H. Myers & Sons
2) Melissa Oliver, AKBD - Lowes of Easton
3) Sidney F. Martin - Sid Martin
4) Ivan Pticek - Kitchens, Baths & More, Inc.
5) Frank LoRusso - Advanced Construction Solutions, LLC
6) Barbara A. Straub - Art Institute of Pittsburg
7) Patricia M. Holjes, CKD, CBD - Just Cabinets
Cosentino & Fretz Bus Trip Information:   
Date: Tuesday, April 14th
Time: 11:30am
Departure Location: LH Brubaker Appliances, Inc
Park City Center, 896L Plaza Blvd, Lancaster, PA 17601

First Stop: Cosentino Philadelphia Center
121 Green Tree Rd, Phoenixville, PA
Details: A box lunch will be provided. Tour Cosentino facility.

Second Stop: The Fretz Corporation at The Philadelphia Naval Yard - 4050 S 26th St, Philadelphia, PA 19112
Details: 5:00pm: Arrival time - Receive name badges.
5:00-6:15pm: Dinner & wine bar
6:15-6:30pm: Announcements by Board Officers
6:30-7:30pm: Outdoor living presentation
7:30-8:00pm: Question & answer session
8:00-8:15pm: Coffee & Dessert
8:15pm: Load bus and depart back to Park City Center 
Government Relations Corner: 
There are currently no bills related to interior design, taxation, small business, architect, or codes in either the house or senate for Pennsylvania and Maryland.
 
February - Illinois: Introduced a bill to license interior designers - school, experience, and passage of NCIDQ required to practice in most spaces.
 
February - Connecticut: Bill to require registered interior designers to take continuing education related to state building and fire code passes 1st committee.
 
January - Utah: Only licensees could submit plans for non-structural work in spaces other than 1-2 family homes.
 
January - New York: Two bills were introduced to license 'certified interior designers' and allow them to sign and seal construction plans for permits.
 
January - Arkansas: Introduces bill that building construction projects under $125,000 do not require that the owner hire an architect.
 
Follow the @nkbaadvocacy twitter feed, where Ed Nagorsky, NKBA General Counsel & Director of Legislative Affairs Counsel for Business/Industry trends, licensing legislation, and small business concerns, posts news, legislation and regulations, and other articles of interest to NKBA members or articles that might impact the membership.
Gold Sponsor:
2015 Study Group:
AKBD, CKD or CBD Certification Exam Preperation

If you are planning to take the AKBD, CKD or CBD exam in the near future, this study group can be a very helpful way to prepare for the exam.

Our Chapter is providing (at no charge to our members) a series of 'Study Group' sessions to cover all of the manuals on which the 'Exam' will be based. Each session will be led by a CKD or CBD leader. These are volunteers and it will be expected that those students who sign up will make every effort to attend all sessions.

These are weekly sessions and will consist of a quiz on each manual followed by any applicable discussion on that manual. For information on certification qualifications and registration time frame and other avenues of exam preparation, please check the NKBA.org website.

Schedule and location of sessions not yet established. If you have any questions and/or would like to be included in these sessions, please contact our VP of Professional Development, Ron Hedges, CMKBD, at 717-359-4432 or [email protected]
Member Spotlight : 
Showcasing Susquehanna Valley chapter  
members and their success!
 
 
Name: Ruth Ann Lohrenz, CKD
Years in the Industry: 30+
Company: Signature Custom Cabinetry, Ephrata, Pa
 
NKBA: How did you become interested in the kitchen and bath industry?
Ruth Ann: My father, Phares Rutt, started Rutt Custom Cabinetry when I was one year old. I played in the sawdust, rode around in the car with with my father to appointments, cleaned the showroom and listened to kitchen conversations. He sold the company around 1966.

NKBA: We loved having you as our Chapter Representative in the past.  What other recognitions have you received in your career?  
RA: I have been a CKD since 1993. I have been active in the Susquehanna Valley chapter for a number of years. I have served as Community Chairperson,  Secretary, and I was the first female President of the chapter. I served 4 years as the Chapter Representative. The last year I was the Regional Director of Region 2 (Mid Atlantic, Central NY, Ontario and Ottawa Canada) and represented these chapters to the Board of Directors. It was a great privilege to serve on the Board of Directors and meet members from all around the states and Canada. I really enjoyed my time on the local chapter board, meeting new people and being involved in the success of the organization. I highly recommend participating.
NKBA: Did you attend KBIS 2015? Was there an innovative product that caught your eye?  
RA: I really like the ovens that open on the left/right like a cabinet instead of the drop down door. I think that this is perfect and maybe the original ovens were made wrong!
 
NKBA: What are the new trends in kitchen cabinets? 
RA: I like the trend to simplify designs. Some of the darker color stains are coming back. Even though, when I started in the business, we were tearing out the dark kitchen and installing white painted cabinets.
 
NKBA: What is one piece of design advice that you abide by?
RA: Go with your gut! Your instincts will guide you. Measure 3 times from different starting points.